Football postion indicator



1959 J. J. STERLING FOOTBALL POSITION INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed-March 30. 1953 INVENTOR.

JOHN JOSEPH STERLING BY {W W ATTORN EYS Jan. 20, 1959 Filed March 30,1953 J. J. STERLING FOOTBALL POSITION INDICATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. JOHN JOSEPH STERLING N v BY a...

ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 20, 19 59 FDOTBALL PQMTEQN INDICATOR John JosephSterling, Springfield, Ohio Application March 30, 1953, Serial No.345,649

3 Claims. (Cl. 33-46) This invention relates to an alignment device andis particularly adapted for precisely and speedily determining the exactposition of a football on a playing field with respect to side-linemarkers.

In the game of football the team which is in possession of the ball isentitled to a series of plays in which to advance the ball a specifiedminimum number of yards. For the purpose of determining whether the ballis advanced the required distance it is customary for linesmen to employa length of chain which stretches along the side-line from a pointopposite the initial position of the ball to a point opposite that whichthe ball is required to be moved in the minimum advance; if the requiredadvance is achieved within the specified number of plays the sideadvancing is entitled to retain the ball for another such attemptedadvance.

On many occasions after a series of plays the ball will be very closelyopposite the advanced end of the chain and it is difficult to determinevisually from the sideline whether or not the ball has been moved therequired minimum distance. It is presently the practice in such aninstance for the head linesman to take up the chain, which is a yardageline measurer in the form of a linear element, at a point where itpasses a lateral marking of the field, and with his assistants to carrythe chain onto the field, close to the ball, whereupon the head-linemanagain places the portion held in the hand against the lateral marker; anassistant then stretches the chain to the ball and if the end thereofpasses the nose of the ball the required advance is achieved; if the enddoes not pass and the complete number of plays has been used up the ballis lost to the opposition-if there is a play or two remaining those inpossession may try again and frequently in close action this results ina number of measurements of the kind escribed Within a very short periodof time.

Various expedients have been suggested to overcome the time-consuming,game-delaying tedious procedure described above. Despite this thedescribed practice has persisted as the methods suggested have producedtheir own inherent obstaclesan excessive amount of side-line equipmentin some instances, which is not only dangerous to the players but alsoblocks the view of spectators; tedious and expensive alignment deviceshave contributed to the rejection of others.

.t is a primary object of this invention to provide a device for makingthe required determination as to the advance of the ball whichincorporates no more visionblocking structure than a linesman himselfoccasions.

it is an important object of the present invention to provide a devicewhich is inherently more accurate than the liuesman himself can be inmaking the manipulations with the chain as described hereinbefore.

It is a particular obiect of the invention to provide a footballposition indicator device capable of extreme accuracy and which requiresa minimum of adjustment in its use.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which isrelatively inexpensive and which entails no installation cost whatever.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which may bereadily packed for transportation.

These and other allied objectives of the invention are attained byproviding a football position indicator device which embodies a modifiedcompass, a telescopic sighting member and a ring member carrying areference point.

The compass in one form as is well known is an instrument which carriesa movable needle which needle is so actuated by the magnetic field ofthe earth that it points in a constant direction. While for makingdirectional readings with a compass corrections for both variation, afactor which varies with the location on the earths surface, anddeviation, a factor which caries from instrument to instrument, arevital, they are of no concern to the use of the modified compassarrangement of the present invention; the only structure required is amovable element which is subject to the magnetic field of the earth.Accordingly it is to be understood that while hereinafter a needleitself is referred to specifically as movable, as in a compass, it isintended by the basic term to include any suitable compass arrangementby the terms herein employed, and the other customary accoutrements of acompass such as scale markings are employed if desired.

The modified compass and telescopic sight are preferably mounted on atripod, the compass is fixedly positioned with respect to this supportwhile the sight is r0- tatably mounted with respect to the same.

A reference ring member which is rotatable with respect to the tripodand sight and which is lockable with respect to the sight is mountedadjacent the compass and bears a suitable index for aligning the ringwith the compass needle.

In the practice of the invention, generally speaking, prior to the startof the game, the head linesman rotates the telescopic sight intoposition to peer across one of the lateral lines of the field and linesthe cross-hair up with the line and a distant point although the same isnot absolutely necessary but is useful as a check.

The sight is then locked in position and without moving the instrumentthe index on the ring member is brought into coincidence with the needleof the modified compass; thereafter the ring member and sight are lockedfor movement together and the original lock of the sight is released.Accordingly thereafter the sight and the reference ring member may bemoved together as a unit.

It will be appreciated that Within the limits of the length of afootball field in the usual latitudes of play that the needle willalways point in a given direction; when the sight and ring member arefixedly positioned with respect to each other as above described it isonly necessary to align the index of the ring or ring member with theneedle to insure that the sight may always be returned tothe positionwhich permits it to have a line of sight extending laterally across thefield, parallel with the original line and hence parallel to all thelateral markings.

In actual practice the linesman operating the instrument will of courseplace the instrument down in almost the same position after eachmovement; the accurate alignment is then achieved by simply bringing theneedle and index into coincidence by moving the latter a slight rotativeamount.

When a measurement of the ball position is required, with the instrumentaligned with respect to the field, the same is viewed through the sightand the position of the ball with respect to'the cross-hair determineswhether the advance has been sufiicient; in making this measurement thecross-hair also must pass through the vertical plane determined by theend of the measuring chain, and for i this purpose the sight is maderotatable in a vertical plane.

.The invention will be more fully understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

' Figure l is a view partially in section of a preferred embodiment ofthe invention a portion of the supporting structure being broken away;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the structure of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view, partially in section, of a portion of the structureof Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates the position of the needle and the index of thering when they are in coincidence;

Figure 5 is an elevational view in extended position of a support forthe structure of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an elevational view partially in section indicating a meansof securing the support of Figure 5 in extended position;

Figure 7 is a view partially in section illustrating a compactarrangement of the preferred embodiment arranged for transporting;

Figure 8 is a view of a football field illustrating a characteristicposition of the structure of invention with respect to the side lines,the parallel cross-stripes and a ball the advance of which is to bejudged;

Figure 9 is a view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

Figure 11 is a view partially in section of a modification of thestructure of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an elevational view partially in section of the structureof Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a detailed view of a portion of the structure of Figure 12;and

Figure 14 is a perspective view having portions cut away illustratingone form of level useful with the structure of invention.

Referring to the drawings the structure of the invention comprises, asgenerally indicated at 1 a support which includes tripod legs 3 suitablyretained by wing nuts 5 in sockets 7 which are secured by brackets 9 andbolts 11 to the base of a casing 13. Support casing 13 is provided witha body member 15, also secured to the base, and having a shoulder 17adjacent a cut-out portion .19. Fixedly mounted on the shoulder andclosing the cut-out portion is a suitable magnetic compass body 21having a needle 23.

The magnetic compass body 21 may if desired be provided with the usualindicia of a compass, but such is not necessary to the practice of thisinvention; it is only required that means responsive to the magneticfield of the earth to indicate a fixed direction such as the needle 23be mounted in the body 15. Thus the needle itself may be the magnet or aneedle may be aifixed to card carrying magnets which move the card in adirection indicated by the earths magnetic field.

A bearing 25 surrounds an outer portion of the body member and providesfor the supported rotation thereabout of a ring or a centrally aperturedplate 27 which is itself slotted around a portion thereof to retainwedge shaped bearings 29 (Figure 9). This wedge bearing permits movementof ring 27 with respect to an upper ring or ring member 31 to which theWedge bearing is secured by screws as at 33. 7

Upper ring 31 is supported on ring 27 by a peripheral bearing 35 whichpermits relative rotation between the two rings; the wedge andperipheral bearing arrangement may be replaced, for example, by bearingssupported from the casing, but the described structure affordsadvantages in that it retains the plates in line, supports the lowerplate relatively to the upper, and most important aids compactness ofthe unit which is highly desirable. I

The upper ring 31 is provided with a threaded rod 37 which serves as ahandle means to rotate the upper ring only; rod 37 may be passedcompletely through the'ring to securely engage the lower ring forrotation of the two rings as a unit (Figure 3).

The lower ring 27 is provided with teeth 39 which mesh with a gear 41mounted on a shaft 43 journaled in the body member 15 and easing Theshaft 43 is provided on the outer end thereof with a knob 45 foreffecting rotation of the shaft. The shaft is itself threaded as at 47and receives a nut 4% which locks against casing portion 51 to preventrotation of the gear 41 and hence ring 27 also.

Secured by bolt 52 on the lower ring 27 for rotation therewith is asuitable bracket, the bifurcated upper end of which extends from an arm54 and has journaled therebetween (Figure 2) a sighting device 55, whichmay suitably be an ordinary transit or telescope having cross-hairs S7and 57 (Figure l). The arm extends through a slot in the casing 13 asshown in Figures 1. and 7 and rotates with lower ring 27 and thesecuring bolt 5?. in the orientation of the sighting device 55.

The sight device is vertically adjustable and may be secured in theadjusted position by wing nuts 55; as shown in Figure 2 the sight devicemay also be held in a rotative position with respect to support i. bytightening of wing nut 53; the body of the device is rotatable in thecustommy manner by knob 59 on shaft 61 The dotted lines at the right inFigure 1 indicate, for example, a rotated position of the arm 54 whichsupports the transit.

The cross-hair 57 of the sight may be then accurately aligned with anycross-stripe of a football field by suitably positioning the tripod legsand rotating the crosshair into alignment. Preferably the cross-stripeand ball 77 are aligned with the central point at which the crossh-airscross; it is then not necessary that the instrument as a whole beprecisely level. If desired a leveling arrangement may be provided, andsuch a level (Fig. 14) may function with reference to an ordinary liquidlevel to align only the cross-hairs by making the same rotatable in thedevice 55; or a level may be provided for casing 13 or the unit as awhole.

The upper ring 31 is provided with a suitable index as shown at 65 inFigures 2 and 4 as an arrow which may be rotated into coincidence withthe compass indicating means as the needle 23.

Figures 5 and 6 together illustrate a tripod leg 3 in an assembledposition; the leg may have any suitable number of tubular members 67 andin the upper end of each a spring 69 urges a pin 71 into an extendedposition to securely receive thereon an upper member as at 67'. Anyusual arrangement, such as embossings cooperating with recesses may beemployed in the maintaining of the legs extended however. Further oneleg may function as the retaining means for an end of the chain or otherlinear yardage measuring element, as shown in Figures 8 and 12 anddescribed with particularity hereinafter.

As illustrated in Figure 7 the structure of the invention may be carriedto the field in a container 73 which compactly houses the equipmentincluding the tripod legs 3, casing 13 and sighting device 55.

In the operation of the structure described, prior to the start of thegame the head linesman, for example, assembles the structure of Figure 7and positions the unit at an edge of the field at one of thecross-stripes, that is, a goal line or the 50 yard stripe. The unit isthen leveled if necessary, and wit-h each of the lock devices, rod 37and nut 49, in the unlocked position the sight device is rotated intoposition to sight along the stripe as indicated hereinbefore. By movingthe sight in a vertical plane while adjusting the horizontal positionthe sight is quickly oriented into alignment with the full length of thestripe.

Thereafter nut 49 is tightened against casing 13 to hold lower ring 27against rotation and then upper ring 31 is rotated by means of rod 37 tobring the index or arrow .65 into alignment with .the needle. Threadedrod 37 is then screwed through the ring 31 to securely engage the lowerring 27 and thereby to lock the rings together. The unit is now readyfor use in the game as will be described in connection with Figure 8.

In Figure 8 the football 77 is illustrated as having been advanced to apoint between cross-stripes and it is necessary to determine whether theball has passed a point forward of the tripod and chain end. 'It is onlynecessary then to note the relative position of needle 23 and index 65and with nut 49 unlocked to move the index into coincidence with theneedle 'by rotating knob 45. This adjustment compensates for the errorintroduced by the different positioning of the :tripod legs with respectto the field and in general with an experienced linesman will not bemore than a few compass degrees.

The sight now lines directly :across the field panallel with thecross-stripes, for the needle position with respect to the field isfixedand once the sight and index rings are positioned and locked the sightwill always return to its original position relative to the field if theneedle and index are brought into alignment. Referring to Figure 8 it isonly necessary then for the linesman to peer across the field throughthe sight at the ball and to determine Whether or not the ball hasadvanced 'the required distance.

in the preferred simplified embodiments of the invention of Figures 10to 14, inclusive, the same principle of operation is involved. Thus asshown in Figures "10 and 12 legs 103 received in sockets 107 are securedto a body member 115 which is recessed (Figure 12) to receive a compasshaving a needle 123 (Figure 10). A ring or ring member 127 having asuitable index as an arrow .at 165 is rotatably supported on bearings162 on a peripheral shoulder of body member 115 and the ring is lockableto the body member by engagement of knob 145. A lock ring 164 is securedbetween shoulders of ring 127 and body member 115 to retain the ring inposition on the body member.

Secured by nuts 152 to the outer periphery of ring 127 are upwardlyextending arms 154 which converge centrally over the compass glass andneedle to define a ring which supports a bracket 153 which is providedat 170 with the head of a threaded bolt having wing nut 172 thereon. Thesight device 155 is mounted on the bracket 153 for rotation in avertical plane and knobs 159 are provided to assist rotation of thesight device in this plane. This sight device 155 may be rotatedindependently of the ring 127 by simply loosening wing nut 172 andturning the device by hand, relocking being effective when the desiredposition is reached by simply securing the wing not against the ringdevice by the arms 154.

It is desirable that a tripod leg form one end of the measuring chain asthis arrangement avoids any increase in the usual number of linesmen;accordingly as shown in Figures 12 and 13 one of the legs 103 may besuitably grooved as at 182 to receive a flanged split collar, theopposed parts 178 and 178a of which may be bolted together as at 179. Ahook 173 '(Figure 13) is secured to the chain 180 and accordingly theleg 103 carrying the chain may be positioned in the ground in thecustomary manner of a stake chain as shown in Figure 8 in order toeffect a measurement.

Figure 14 illustrates a structure for aligning the crosshairs in thehorizontal and vertical planes; thus the sight device 155 may bethreaded as at 176 to receive the casing 175 which houses thecross-hairs. Secured to the member by a suitable bolt 177 is a liquidlevel 174; rotation of the casing 175 to position the bubble of theliquid level centrally rotates the cross-hairs to a leveled position.

Referring now specifically to the operation of the structure of Figures10 and 12, which is substantially identical to the operation of thestructure of Figure 11, the tripod, before the beginning of the game, ispositioned with the leg carrying the end of the chain 180 at the edge ofa cross stripe of the field; with knob unloosened ring 127 is rotated toalign index 165 with the needle 123. Knob 145 is then tightened againstring 127 to restrain further movement of the ring; with wing nut 172unloosened the sight device is then rotated into coincidence with thefield stripe and the vertical cross-hair is aligned directly across thestripe. Any leveling of the instrument, should such be necessary, takesplace at this time with the aid of the liquid level or any othersuitable leveling arrangement. Wing nut 172 is then tightened to lockthe sight device 155 in position; it will be noted that sight device 155is now locked with respect to ring 127 and will remain so locked whenthe instrument is moved about the field.

Accordingly the structure is ready for use in a game, and as thestructure is moved along the side lines in the course of the game-theleg carrying the chain may be positioned at slightly different angleswith respect to the field, and accordingly the sight which is now fixedpositively with respect to the leg will not view directly across thefield; the needle however always assumes a constant position relative tothe field and it is only necessary to align the sight device with theneedle and this is accomplished with the knob 1 .5 unloosened byrotating ring 127 until the index coincides with the needle 123. Sightdevice 155 will then be positioned to view directly across the field.

The structure of Figure 11 is similar to that of Figure 12 andaccordingly corresponding parts have the same numerals but are primed.Referring to the figure the body member 115' is provided at 166 with apivot which supports needle 123' for free rotation thereof. The outerring 127' is provided with a depending inturned flange 164 which engagesthe shoulder of the body member 1.15 to retain the ring and the bodymember together; also in this instance the index marking 165 is providedon an inner annular portion of ring 127' and accordingly is in thehorizontal plane of the needle beneath the glass which houses thecompass.

The operation of this structure is substantially identical with that ofFigure 12.

It is to be noted that with the arrangements described no entry onto thefield or handling of the yardage chain is necessary. No cumbersomeequipment which hinders the view of spectators is needed and theoperation is considerably speeded, making for a more active and lesstime consuming game.

The various components of the structure of invention such as the casing,rings, gears, are preferably of a metal which is non-magnetic; if themetal is of a magnetic material the amount of such material during anygame must remain constant and should be arranged uniformly about thecompass. However the casing may preferably be of plastic and the movablecomponents of a resin impregnated fiber as such assists in attaining a.sturdy non-magnetic structure of light weight; when rings 27, 31 are ofimpregnated fiber wedge bearings 29 may suitably be of aluminum as thismaintains the Weight low as well as yielding a low coetlicier offriction between the parts.

it will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly,it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention asmay all within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a football yardage measurer in the form of alinear element with means for determining the position of a footballrelative to the yardage measurer, said means being secured to one end ofthe yardage measurer and including a sighting device and magnetic meansresponsive to the magnetic field of the earth to indicate a fixeddirection, the sighting device being mounted for rotation relative tosaid magnetic means and to be oriented relative to said magnetic meansto extend perpendicularly tosaid yardage measurer.

2. In a football game linemans measuring apparatus, a yardage measurerin the form of a linear element and a football position indicatorsecured to one end of the yardage measurer, the indicator comprisingsupporting leg members to a lower end of one of which said yardagemeasurer is secured, a body member secured to the upper end of the legmembers, a ring member rotatably secured on the body member forhorizontal movement, said ring member having an index thereon, asighting device supported by the ring member, horizontally movableindependently of the ring member and adapted to extend at right anglesto the yardage measurer when the latter is extended from said one ofsaid leg members, a needle, responsive to the magnetic field of theearth to indicate a fixed direction, pivotally supported for movementand surrounded by the ring member, the ring member being rotatable foraligning the needle with the index of the ring member, and means to lockthe ring member and urer, said means being secured to one end of theyardage measurer and including a sighting device, magnetic meansresponsive to the magnetic field of the earth to indicate a fixeddirection and index means, the sighting device being mounted forrotation relative to said magnetic means and to be oriented relative tosaid magnetic means to extend perpendicularly to said yardage measurer,and the index means being also mounted for rotation relative to saidmagnetic means and oriented to be aligned with the magnetic means, andmeans to lock the index means and sighting device together forhorizontal rotation as a unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 519McCann Dec. 20, 1837 293,667 Nixon Feb. 19, 1884 303,928 Glover Aug. 19,1884 339,818 Buford Nov. 17, 1885 453,158 Paoli May 26, 1891 1,180,283Chalkey et al. Apr. 25, 1916 2,171,755 Langsner Sept. 5, 1939

